[8] Donovan was reelected in 2007 with over 68% of the vote, defeating local Democratic attorney Michael Ryan[9] despite a last-minute endorsement of his rival by longtime friend and mentor Staten Island Borough President James Molinaro; Molinaro was angered that Donovan had referred his grandson's case to a special prosecutor.

[10] Donovan's tenure as DA has seen several high-profile cases, including the second conviction of Andre Rand, long suspected in a string of kidnappings on Staten Island.

In 2010, famed rapper Method Man pleaded guilty to attempted tax evasion and was forced to pay about $106,000 in restitution and penalties.

"[17] Donovan asked the grand jury to consider whether there was "probable cause" for manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide, but did not bring reckless endangerment charges.

[19] On May 17, 2010, Donovan, a registered Republican, announced his candidacy for the New York Attorney General, becoming the front-runner for his party's nomination.

[23] One week earlier, Donovan received the endorsement of the Conservative Party of New York, but he was defeated on November 2 by Democrat Eric Schneiderman.

He defeated Democratic City Councilman Vincent J. Gentile and Green Party candidate James Lane in the May 5, 2015 special election[25] and was sworn into office on May 12, 2015.

[54] New York City's sole Republican member of Congress, Donovan supported Trump's 2017 executive order to impose a ban on immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries.

[55] He said, "President Trump's decision is in America's best interest, and I support exploring safe zones in the region to protect innocent life.

"[56] Protesters disrupted a Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce event in February 2017, repeatedly shouting down Donovan due to his support of Trump's immigration ban.

[57] In June 2017, Donovan voted in favor of Kate's Law, which would increase penalties for undocumented immigrants who return to the United States after being deported.

[58] Donovan opposes sanctuary cities (jurisdictions that have policies in place to limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement).

[59] In April 2018, he introduced legislation that would reduce federal funding to jurisdictions with sanctuary policies in place, such as New York City.

[60] In June 2018, Donovan defended ICE's decision to arrest an undocumented immigrant who was delivering a pizza to a Brooklyn Army base.

"[29] In September 2018, Donovan co-sponsored, together with Elise Stefanik and Seth Moulton, the "Cyber Ready Workforce Act" advanced by Jacky Rosen.

It aims to offer certifications and connect participants with businesses in order to "boost the number" of federal jobs in said trade.

[69] In 2018, Donovan introduced a bill that would penalize anyone who causes "injury, opposes, threatens or intimidates any person" while wearing a mask, with the maximum penalty a 15-year sentence.

The legislation, which made reference to the far-left group Antifa, was given media attention after being promoted by alt-right activist Mike Cernovich.